Tone-arm mechanism



E. T. CONDON, JR. TONE ARNI MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED ocT. I7, IsIs.

Patented Mm'. 23, 1920.

EMI/ara;

EDWARD fr. ooNDoN, Jn., or NEW YORK, N. Y.

Tenn-ARM MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 23, 1920.

Application filed October 17, 1916. Serial No. 126,068.

To all whom 'it may concer/n:

Be it known that I. EDWARD T. CoNnoN, Jr., a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York, in the county or' New York and State oit New York, have invented certain new and useful Tone-Arni Mechanism., of, which the following is a specificaw tion.

The invention relates to improvements in talking machines, and more particularly to that class of talking; machines in which the sound box is ulcrumed at the base of the tone arm. It has for its object means whereby the sound box and tone arin carrying saine may be temporarily held in a raised position oil the record, during the period the stylus is to be replaced and the record changed. A further object of the invention is to counterbalance the tone arm and sound box` in order to reduce the pressure of the stylus upon the record. T he foregoing positioning means, as well as the counterbalancing means, are so arranged within the tone arm hase as to be entirely invisible and, therefore, do not detract from the appearance of the machine.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate the invention--d Figure 1 is a fragmentary vertical section of a talking' machine of the concealed horn type with tulcrumed sound box.

Fig. 2 is anV enlarged detail vertical section of the tone arm positioning mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a detail vertical section taken on the line 3-3 Fig. 2.

Figs. 4 and 5 are horizontal sections taken respectively on the .lines 4.41 and {iv-5, Fig. Q. p

Similar characters of reference-designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, l() designates a cabinet of any suitable construction, having a top or motor board 11 to which is secured the mechanism (not shown) for rotating a turn-table 12 adapted to support and :rotateV a record 13, as is well understood. The horn 14 and tone arm base 15 are secured to the said motor board 11 in any convenient manner, for example by means of a plate 16 and screws 17. The tone arm 18 carries at its outer end a sound boX 19 provided with stylus 20 adapted to engage the record 13, and at its inner end is surrounded by a spherical or hall portion 21 `fitted thereover. A rod `22 `passes diametrically through the inner end of said tone arm and surrounding portion 21, projecting beyond the latter and 'forming trunnions for the said tone arin to rock upon, The trunnions are mounted in a circular groove 23 extending around the in ner wall of the base 15, passing through a sleeve 24 which is recessed at its upper end to provide a socket, corresponding to the portion 21, for thc inner end oi said tone arm to rock therein as well as in the upper portion of the said base. Moreover, in passing through said sleeve, rod 2Q, causes the latter to partake of the inovcnieiirt or oscillation of the tone arm 18 in a horizontal plane, viz: about the vei'ticai axis or its oase 15. The lower end of the sleeve 2li is provided with a llange .C-l litting easilv the inner end of horn 14tand tending to direct the sound waves from the tone arm 18 through said horn.

Extending downwardly from the portion 21, surrounding the inner end ot the tono arm and into said sleeve is a rod or finger 25 which extends toward the bottonioi' sleeve 24 and is secured to one end ot a spring 26 whose other end is fastened to the inner wall of .sleeve 24: opposite the said linger 25. This spring 26 exerts a force on the tone arm about the rod 22 as a ulcrum and 1n a direction opposed to the force exerted by the weight of the external portion of the tone arm, and its attached sound box, and, therefore, counterbalancing the pressure exerted upon the record through the stylus. the degree of counterbalancing being adjusted through the tension oit said spring to suit the requirements.

The rod 25 is preferably square and its vend pointed or V-shaped, the saine being adapted to engage a pivoted catch 30 in the lower portion of said sleeve. The upper edge of this catch is so formed with respect to the end of rod 25 that, as tone arm 18 is raisechthe said catch will engage with the rod .E25 to holdthe tone arm in two positions, con

responding to a less or more elevated posi tion of the said tone arln. To this end, catch 30 is mounted to be rotatable on a rod 31 passing diametrically through the sleeve 24, and whose extending ends are fitted in a circular groove of the inner wall of the base 15 at its lower portion. Catch 30, therefore, inoves correspondingly with the movement of tone arm 18 and sleeve 24, maintaining `its relative position in said sleeve, A spring 33 coiled about rod 31,

Ylock the same in elevated having one end attached to the sleeve 24 and the other to the said catch 30, urges the latter normally in a direction away from the end of rod 25, and its position relative thereto is fixed by means of an adjustable stop 34, such as a screw inserted in the outer end of an arm 35 thereof. Screws B6 and 3T forming stops are inserted through the base 15 into the groove 23, thereby limiting the oscillation of rod 22 adapted to engage therewith as well as the oscillation of sleeve 24 and tone arm 18 movable therewith.

In operation, as the tone arm 18 is raised, rod 25 is depressed and sufficiently for its one beveled face 40 to engage the adjacent beveled face 41 of the catch 30, forcing thereby the latter to rotate about the rod 31 as an axis until the point 42 of said rod slips beyond the edge of face 4l and is locked in the notch 43 provided on said catch, and in opposition to the spring 38. If it be desired to hold the tone arm 18 in a more elevated position, said arm is still further raised and the rod 25 thereby is caused to further depress said catch 30 riding upon same to the final position, as indicated in dotted lines, Fig. 2. In this position, the V-shaped end of the said rod fits accurately the second notch 44 .of said catch, preventing the latter from returning under the action ot its spring 83 and holding'rod 25 and thereby the tone, arm, which more elevated position, as indicated in dotted lines, Fig. 2. To return the tone arm to its normal position for engagement of the needle 20 with record 13, it is necessary merely to exert sufficient force thereon to overcome the spring tension exerted on catch 30, when the said rod 25 will return to its position out of engagement with the said catch, and as' shown in full lines, Fig. 2 of the drawings.

I claim:

1. In a talking machine; a tone arm base; a tone arm fulcrumed thereto; and means contained within said tone arm base, and independent of the said tone arm to be en gaged and actuated by the latter to automatically and positively lock the same in elevated position.

2. In a talking machine: a tonel arm base; a tone arm fulcrumed thereto and means contained within said tone arm base, and independent of the said tone arm movable as a whole aboutv a vertical axis with the said tone arm and engaged and actuated thereby to automatically and positively lock said tone arm in elevated position.

3. In a talking machine: a tone arm base; a tone arm fulcrnmed thereto; and a catch pivotally mounted within said tone arm base, adapted to be engaged and actuated by said tone arm to automatically and positively position.

' 4. In a talking machine: a tone arm base; a sleeve rotatably mounted therein; a` tone latter assumes a still.

arm fulcrumed to said base and adapted to rotate said sleeve; and means within said sleeve adapted to be actuated by said tone arm to automatically lock the same in ele* vated position.

5. In a talking machine: a tone arm base; a sleeve rotatably mounted therein; a tone arm :tulcrumed to said base and adapted to rotate said sleeve; and a catch pivotally mounted in said sleeve and adapted to be engaged by said tone arm to automatically lock the same in elevated position.

6. In a talking machine: a tone arm base; a sleeve rotatably mounted therein; a tone arm fulcrumed to said base and adapted to rotate said sleeve; a spring-drawn catch pivotally mounted in the lower portion ot' said sleeve; and a depending rod secured to said tone arm to engage with said catch to lock the tone arm in elevated position.

7. In a talking machine: a tone arm base; a sleeve rotatably mounted therein; a tone arm fulcrunfied to said base and adapted to rotate said sleeve; a rod passing through the lower portion of said sleeve and. its protruding` ends adapted to engage in a groove of said tone arm base; a catch mounted over said rod within said sleeve; a. spring coiled about said rod, one end being secured to the said sleeve and the other to the said catch to urge the latter toward the inner wall o i said sleeve; an adjustable stop on said catch to engage with said inner wall to determine the position ot said catch; and a rod extending from said tone arm within said sleeve and adapted to engage said catch to lock the tone arm in elevated position.

8. In a talking machine; a tone arm base: a sleeve rotatably mounted therein; a tone arm fulerumed to said base and adapted to rotate said sleeve; a rod passing through the lower portion oi" said sleeve and its protruding ends adapted. to engage in a groove of said tone arm base; a catch mounted over said rod and provided with aninelined surface and having a notch beyond same and a `second notch beyond said first-named notch; a spring coiled about said rod, one end being secured to the said sleeve and the other to the said catch to urge the latter toward the inner wall of said sleeve; an adjustable stop on said catch to engage with said inner wall to determine the position of said catch; and a square rod extending from the tone arm within said sleeve, its end being adapted to engage the inclined surface of the catch to depress the latter suiiiciently to allow said rod t0 engage the first-named notch, upon the tone arm being elevated, whereupon fu rther elevation of the tone arm will cause its said rod to further depress the said catch until the rod shall engage the second-named .notch thereof.

9. In a talking machine: a tone arm base provided with a circular groove 1n its lnner Wall; a sleeve rotatably mounted in said base; a tone arm having its inner end rotatably mounted in said sleeve; a rod extending through the inner end of said tone arm and sleeve, having its projecting ends engaging the said groove of the. tone arm base; and means contained Within said sleeve adapted to be actuated by the tone arm to lock the saine in elevated position.

l0. In a talking machine: a tone arm base provided "with a circular groove in its inner wall; a sleeve rotatably mounted in said base; a tone arm having its inner end rotatably mounted in said sleeve; a rod extending through the inner end of said tone arm and sleeve, having its projecting ends engaging the said groove of the tone arm base; a rod passing through the lower por tion of said sleeve and its protruding ends adapted to engage in a groove of said tone arm base; a catch mounted over said Vrod and provided with an inclined surface and having a notch beyond saine and a second notch beyond said first-named notch; a spring coiled about said rod, one end being secured to the said sleeve and the other to the said catch to urge the latter toward the inner Wall of said sleeve; an adjustable stop on said catch to engage with said inner Wall to determine the position of said catch; a square rod extending from the tone arm within said sleeve, its end being adapted to engage the inclined surface of the catch to depress the latter sufficiently to allow said rod to engage the first-named notch, upon the tone arm being elevated, whereupon Yfurther elevation of the tone arm Will cause its said rod to further depress the said catch until the rod shall engage the second-named notch thereof. 4

11. In a talkin machine: a tone arm base; a sleeve rotatab y mounted therein; a tone arm having its inner end fulcrumed to said base and adapted to rotate said sleeve; a rod extending from the inner end of said tone arm Within said sleeve; and a spring secured thereto and to said sleeve.

12. In a talking machine: a tone arni base provided with a circular groove in its inner Wall; a sleeve rotatably mounted in said r base; a tone arm having its inner end rotatably mounted in said sleeve; a rod eX- tending through the inner end of said tone arm and sleeve, having its projecting ends engaging the said groove of the tone arm base and means to lock the tone arm in ele vated position, including a catch contained within said sleeve,a1nem er extending from the inner end of' said tone arm Within said sleeve, and a spring secured thereto and to said sleeve.

13. In a talking machine: a horn; a tone arm base; a sleeve rotatably mounted therein having its inner end ianged to it 'Within the said horn; and a tone arm having its inner end ulcrumed to said base and adapted to rotate said sleeve.

14.. In a talking machine: a tone arm base provided With a circular groove in its inner Wall; a sleeve rotatably mounted in said base; a tone arm having its inner end rotatably mounted in said sleeve; a rod extending through the inner end of said tone arm and sleeve, having its projecting ends engaging the said groove of the tone arm base; a rod extending from the inner end of said tone arm Within said sleeve; and a spring secured thereto and to said sleeve.

l5. In a talking machine: ahorn; a tone arm base; a sleeve rotatably mounted therein having its inner end flanged to fit Within the said horn; a tone arm having its inner end fulcruined to said base and adapted to rotate said sleeve; a rod extending through the inner end or' said tone arm and sleeve, having its projecting ends engaging the said groove or the tone arm base; means contained Within said sleeve adapted to be actuated bythe tone arm to lock the same in elevated position; a rod extending from the inner end of said tone arm Within said sleeve; and a spring secured thereto and to said sleeve.

Signed at New York city, New York, in the county of New; York and State of New York, this 13th day oi October, A. D. 1916.

EDWARD T. CONDON, Jn. 

